Blog: Internal communication needs human touch more than ever

Internal communication 'needs human touch more than ever'

Yet one seems to be regularly forgotten but, in my humble opinion, remains the most important: People.

Simple but easily overlooked.

Operating in an online-based position like mine, much of my time is inevitably spent submerged in the digital challenge of helping companies connect with workforces.

IC professionals have never had such an array of tools at their disposal to help engage with employees – regardless of position, location or age. The window of opportunity has never been so open.

So it was interesting to read an interview with CTO of messaging company Slack Cal Henderson, who is adamant that we’re only at the tip of the technological iceberg for apps and other digital innovations.

“We’ll see more and more people starting things, and most of them will fail,” Henderson told Tech Republic. “But, we’re going to see a ton more interesting new stuff that we wouldn’t have seen five years ago.”

Exciting times undoubtedly.

But with so much emphasis being placed on digital communication and social, the old-fashioned “human touch” within internal communication has never been so vital.

Why?

Human interaction generates trust on a level that digital is yet to match.

And once that bond of trust has been established, a workforce will be far more open to new ideas and innovation than those left without that personal connection.

As the famous misquote from Field of Dreams states: “Build it and they will come.”

Perhaps. But only they trust you enough in the first instance.

By Martin Smith

Social Media Manager at Headlines - The Internal Communications Agency

Leads Headlines' digital marketing operations. With more than 15 years' experience in print and digital publications, Martin's passion is social media with a keen interest in digital communications too.